Competition

Rules/Officiating

Ensure quality, integrity and consistency for all participants in the sport of sailboat racing,

Give back to the sport of sailing by volunteering and becoming a race official. You’ll run races, make umpire calls on the water, hear protests and redress requests in the jury room, and classify sailors to compete in disabled sailing events.

What are Race Officials?

Race Officials represent US Sailing on and off the race course. They are trained, certified and supported by US Sailing, and they have the resources of the organization at their disposal Race Officials are sailors like you who volunteer their time because they enjoy the work and because they believe in the importance of giving back to the sport.

What Do Race Officials Do?

Race Officials support you, the racing sailor, in their roles as Race Officers, Judges, Umpires and Classifiers. They run races, make umpire calls on the water, hear protests and redress requests in the jury room, and classify sailors to compete in disabled sailing events.

Insurance for Race Officials

Certified Race Officials are covered by US Sailing's liability insurance policy while they are acting as volunteers for US Sailing. Learn more.

Race Officers

Use your knowledge and abilities to lead others on the race course

By becoming a race officer you’ll be able to ensure the safety of competitors and the race committee and choose courses to give competitors the best possible races. The three levels of certification will allow you to help standardize race management practices and improve racing events.

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judges

Use your experience in racing and race management, service on protest committees and a high standard of personal integrity to become a judge

As a judge you will be responsible for conducting protest and redress hearings when there may have been a breach of the rules. The various certification programs are tailored to meet the needs of each person who seeks certification.

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Umpires

Make decisions on the water

As an umpire you’ll function as a race official by applying the rules of the sport (match racing or team racing) to racing situations, primarily on the water, as situations occur to resolve rules issues.

Measurers & Equipment Inspectors

Check sailing equipment against the relevant rules

As a measurer & equipment inspector you'll use your excellent knowledge of the relevant class rules, certification measurement and high level inspection methods & techniques to lend to the process of sailing equipment control.